[The Saintess for You - 10]
[The Saintess for You - 10]
"Pathetic."
"Pathetic."
"Please don't do that."
"But they really were pathetic."
Saintess-nim let out a small sigh.
Eris had fought the guards because she wanted to see the Valtus Family's skills, and she had simply overwhelmed them.
The fact that they all attacked at once and couldn't even leave a single scratch on Eris was a serious issue.
It wasn't that Eris was weak—she had talent—but the guards' skills were so lacking that they couldn't even hold her back.
The guards themselves must have been somewhat aware of their own weakness.
After all, they existed more for the purpose of guarding the post rather than having received formal training.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they existed to check the identities of incoming guests rather than to fight in real combat.
However, they probably never imagined they would be unilaterally beaten up by just one girl, Eris.
Eris hadn't even transformed, so she was essentially beating up the guards as if she were playing.
"This is embarrassing, Saintess-nim."
"Grandmother."
"Aria-nim."
"As you can see, this is a family that almost went bankrupt once. The people with actual skills all left the moment we were on the verge of ruin."
"But shouldn't there be at least one person loyal to the family?"
"As you say, normally, even if a family goes bankrupt, there are usually a few loyal retainers who have given everything to that family... Unfortunately, we are a branch family. If someone from the main family had become the head in this situation, the story would be different, but for a branch family, it's another matter."
"Indeed, it is that important."
"It is an important matter for nobles. Anyway, as you can see, the guards' skills are not very impressive. Both in terms of numbers and ability."
Both quantity and quality are not very good.
That was the current reality of the Valtus Family, and to be honest, it would be quite dangerous if a slightly strong monster or malicious bandits were to arrive.
Grandmother was a mage and had some skill, but her main profession was 'scholar'.
She might be able to handle things theoretically through what she had learned, but in reality, she hadn't experienced actual combat much during her long life.
She might be stronger than an average person, but if she were pushed by numbers, she would naturally be at a disadvantage.
Moreover, she wasn't living alone, so from the perspective of protecting the territory, it would be nothing short of anxiety-inducing.
Even Grandmother herself said she had 'no talent for combat'.
It had been a long time since a genius with talent for combat had appeared in the Valtus Family, and perhaps that was why my existence was so fascinating.
They say even Grandfather, who knew how to fight, wasn't on my level.
"So, could I have a little bit of your time?"
"Time?"
Grandmother smiled.
That smile, mixed with calculation, was the distinct look she had when she was aiming for something.
"If Saintess-nim is okay with it, I would like to entrust the guards' training to Eris-nim. Seeing her, she seems to be quite a skilled person. If they learn proper training methods, they might be able to grow through them."
"But I plan to return in a week, and I can't just leave Eris behind."
"I know. A week is enough. The important thing is not the training itself, but teaching them 'how to train'. Could you do that for me?"
There must be a separate reason why she's asking Eris instead of me.
She must be hoping that Saintess-nim and I will find the monster alone.
Rather than worrying about age gaps or personality clashes, in Grandmother's eyes, 'the benefits of becoming family with Saintess-nim' came first.
It was a snobbish reason, but she wasn't a bad person.
She was just struggling to protect her family in any way she could.
Even if things had gotten better, the family's future wasn't necessarily bright.
In such a situation, becoming family with Saintess-nim would be a joker card that could positively change that future.
Therefore, she seemed to want to increase the time Saintess-nim and I spent alone, but since we already spent a lot of time alone, I wasn't sure if it had much meaning.
Is she hoping for the suspension bridge effect?
I haven't seen the monster myself, but I don't think it's a monster powerful enough to trigger the suspension bridge effect.
"Of course, I will pay the corresponding price."
"......."
Saintess-nim also smiled.
Countless thoughts must be crossing her mind right now.
Literally, 'ten thousand thoughts' must be flashing through her head, and she looked at Grandmother and smiled as if she had finished her calculations.
"A price? That's not necessary. I can do that much for Ed's family. ......Eris."
"Yes, Saintess-nim."
"For the next week, your daily routine is training those guards. Got it?"
"Can I be away from your side, Saintess-nim?"
"No problem, this isn't the Grand Cathedral. Of course, if a problem arises, you might need to prioritize that, but if something happens, the ones who need to be prioritized are other people, not me. Understand?"
The gaze, which held an undefinable firmness, surely lacked justice or goodwill. There was only an 'understanding' that as a good person, one must do what is expected.
An understanding that good people or people with high pride would surely give such orders.
That was everything that made Saintess-nim act right now, and it was fine to call it a memorized, regular, and consistent pattern.
It wasn't bad.
She would never truly find joy in goodness, and she would never become ordinary, but she was still showing the possibility of living a normal life.
'Do I believe it, or do I not....... I wonder.'
Recalling the conversation I had with Grandmother, my head became complicated.
"Understood, as you wish, Saintess-nim."
"Good, then Ed. Let's go to work. You said the forest, right? It might get a bit fun."
"We're not going to play."
"I know, but isn't feeling the deviant pleasure of daily life a form of normalcy? And I'm a little curious, too."
"About what?"
"Hm? How much stronger I've become. I haven't used my strength in a fight lately."
That's another problem.
Saintess-nim was by no means experienced in combat.
Yet, as she grew, she was naturally showing mana control suitable for fighting.
There were many things, like control methods that could only be gained through experience, but Saintess-nim was learning them naturally as she grew.
In other words, Saintess-nim is just a natural-born fighter.
She was born with a talent for fighting, and she learns naturally without needing to experience it.
There were occasionally people like that, but Saintess-nim's talent was overwhelmingly higher than anyone else's.
When it came to combat, it felt like she was gaining experience points on her own even without doing anything.
"Understood, let's go right away."
"I'm looking forward to it."
"It's a really wide forest."
"In the past, the nature of the forest was so preserved that they lived by hunting. The Valtus Family was called a family of hunters in the past."
"Indeed."
The forest was wide.
The dense forest gave a strong feeling of living in harmony with nature, and with this size, there would be many animals, and edible plants or fruits, so one might be able to survive somehow even if they hid and lived here.
Besides, there was a large river flowing through it.
If one were to live somewhat primitively, everything needed was there.
"Please be careful. There are animals in this forest that use poison......."
"......."
"Come to think of it, I didn't need to worry about that."
"If I die from poison, it would be a disgrace as a Saintess. Previous Saintesses have died from injuries or excessive mana consumption, but there is no record of them dying from poison. You don't need to worry about that part."
"That's true."
In the past, she was an expert against whom powerful poisons, like deadly toxins, and even curses used by monsters didn't work, so it is said that monsters using poison or curses could do nothing in front of the Saintess.
"For now, it is the kingdom's largest forest, so please be careful."
"Amazing, our Frendisiv Family's forest is just like a small park. So, how will we find the monster?"
"Once we find the traces, it won't be difficult from there. It's just that, as you said yourself, the forest is wide, so there are estimated areas where it might be. We will search those first. We have to consider the possibility that it won't end in a day or two."
"Of course."
"Aren't you bored?"
"Me? Why?"
You're with me.
Besides, where would there be time to be bored while traveling to such a new place?
Every time we go, you show me new patterns and show me interesting things.
Every time we pass through, I will see new forest scenery, and the sounds of that forest will awaken my concentration.
This forest must have its own completed ecology, and I felt like watching it.
Who is the apex predator?
Is it a monster, perhaps?
"Let's hurry and deal with the monster, and gain favor for your family."
"You're being snobbish."
"What are you saying, it's pure goodwill. Everyone calls what I do 'goodwill'."
Ed looked at me for a moment and smiled.
"Whoever taught you, they did a good job with your education."
"You can praise me a bit more now that I'm willing to accept it?"
"Let's go."
"Hey, I'm still your superior, it hurts my feelings if you ignore me like that."
I walked into the forest, following Ed.
Come to think of it, is the inside of a monster different from the inside of an animal?
If I say I'll test it, would Ed hate it?
I'll have to ask later.